Yesterday Colonel [James] Easton arrived at the Provincial Congress in Watertown from Ticonderoga, & brings the glorious News of the taking that Place by the American forces, without the loss of a man; Of which interesting Event we have collected the following Particulars, viz.
Last Tuesday se'nnight [May 9], about 240 Men, from Connecticut and this Province, under Col. [Ethan] Allen and Colonel Easton, arrived at the Lake near Ticonderoga, 80 of them crossed it, and came to the Fort about the Dawn of day. The Sentry was much surprised at seeing such a Body of Men, & snapped his Piece at them; our Men, however rushed forward, seized and confined the Sentry, pushed through the covered Way, and all got safe upon the Parade, while the Garrison were sleeping in their Beds. They immediately formed a hollow Square, and gave three Huzzas, which bro't out the Garrison; and an inconsiderable Skirmish, with Cutlasses or Bayonets, ensued, in which a small Number of the Enemy received some Wounds. The commanding Officer soon came forth; Col. Easton clapped him upon the Shoulder, told him he was his Prisoner, and demanded, IN THE NAME OF AMERICA, an instant Surrender of the Fort, with all its Contents, to the American Forces. The Officer was in great Confusion, and expressed himself to this Effect: Damn you, what . . . . what . . . . does all this mean? . . . Col. Easton again told him, that he and his Garrison were Prisoners: The Officer said, that he hoped he should be treated with honour. Colonel Easton replied, he should be treated with much more Honour that our people had met with from the British Troops. The officer then said, he was all Submission, and immediately ordered his Soldiers to deliver up all the Arms, in Number about 100 Stands. As they gave up their Arms, the Prisoners were secured in the hollow square. . . . .
The American Forces having thus providentially got Possession of this important Fortress, found in it upwards of One Hundred Pieces of Cannon, several Mortars, and a considerable Quantity of shot, Stores, and some Powder.
After this Acquisition, a Detachment of our Troops was despatched to take Possession of Crown-Point, where there is a considerable Number of Cannon. Another Detachment was sent to Skenesborough, where they took Major [Philip] Skene and his Family, with a Number of Soldiers, & several small Pieces of Cannon.
